Happy Little Stampers CASE challenge

Happy New Year's to all my friends in the down under. It is already 2016 for them. For us in the states we have several hours yet.

This year brings a new type of challenge to Happy Little Stamper. It is CASE the designer challenge. Each month one of the CASE team will post a card for inspiration and you will CASE that design.

Kylie our fearless leader and owner of Happy Little Stampers stamp company is starting out this fun new challenge.

Here is her inspiration card:

What a CAS and yet classy card!

Here is a wee tutorial on how I made my card using my misti. 

I stamped my sentiment first on my card so I could work my butterflies around it. Next I placed a butterfly from HLS's birthday butterflies upside down on my misti so you have the flat bottom up. Make sense? Then I inked up the stamp with distress ink and lightly misted it.

I closed the misti and stamped the butterfly bottom.

Cool huh, you get a rough shape of the butterfly!

I positioned the second butterfly, closed my misti so it would attach. I opened it and inked this one up same as the first.

Closed the misti and stamped the second butterfly.

I repeated the steps for the last butterfly.

When I was done I inked the top of the stamp with black ink and added the definition. Cool huh? Your stamps can do double duty! 

Hope you try this cool technique and join in the fun for HLS new CASE the designer challenge!

Blessed Christmas

Wishing all of you a blessed Christmas!

The Penultimate Day!

My husband and I happen to think Christmas Eve is our ultimate day. It is the day we spend together, just the two of us. I make a special meal and we open our gifts after dinner. Christmas is all about the excitement of family,  friends, traveling, and eatting. Christmas eve is a more quiet time for us.

Today's card is for George. I have made him a card with this old Penny Black wood stamp, probably for the last 12 years. I don't think he ever realizes that I use this same stamp every year! I am sure this is my most consistently used stamp that I own. I have yet to run out of ideas for it.

Wishing all of you either a penultimate day or like George and I an ultimate day!

Peaceful Holiday

It is getting close to the big day. It is the hump day to Christmas. Today would be a good day to relax a bit and take some time for yourself. Even if it is to pour a glass of wine or make a mug of hot chocolate and watch the twinkling lights on the tree for a bit.

Everything will still be there waiting and it will all get done.

Today's card reminds me to stop and smell the pine trees. The soft colors relax and remind me the holidays aren't all about the gifting, decorating, cooking etc etc. They are about family, friends and the joy of the holiday itself.

These two stamps- this one and this one were popular a few years back, but they are new to me.

I loved this card so much, I made a similar card, not quite so cute using "Deck the Halls" by Lila Griffith.

So relax and enjoy the last day before the excitement begins!

Happy Kissmas at Laura's Loft

If you are like me, you are in the thick of getting ready for Christmas. I had last week off, but still feel like I am behind, wrapping, crafting, cooking, and last minute decorating. No matter how prepared you are, you never really are.

I did take the time out though over the weekend to make a card for hubby. He and I are those "cat people",  so naturally I had to make a cat card using this adorable set from Newton's Nook that I got from Laura's Loft. Remember this posting? Be sure to check out Laura's shop and blog, featuring yours truly!

The tag die I used on this awesome card is CASual Friday also gotten at Laura's place.

Well gotta run, presents to wrap, cards to finish, cookies to bake........oh I am exhausted!

Quick and Easy

The countdown is on! 4 days to go!! Have you finished your cards? Have you even started them? 

Well I am here to the rescue! This is is VERY QUICK and EASY card, that is bound to impress! I cranked about 25 of these in half hour or so. This brush bottle tree has been very popular lately and I was able to pick up this HA set at Joannes with a million coupons, it was practically free!

I picked bright colors from SSS- jelly bean, audrey blue and doll pink. Stickles to add the glitter and a saying of your choice and you are done- just like this blog post!

Get cracking and I will see you soon!

Who stole the star?

I haven't been the best blogger over the past month, only have been able to fulfill DT commitments.

This week I will share some of cards that I am sending out to friends and family.

I get bored easily so I usually make 4-5 designs. This card uses that AWESOME set by Lia Griffith. It was really hard to find and was always sold out. The trees are a Lawn Fawn set from last year. I had the idea as usual when I sleeping. It took a bit of tinkering and advice from hubby and a very cute card was created. No modesty here!!

While I was making this card, I ran out of ink on a copic marker for the first time. R35 coral. It is my favorite red. I was sooooo bummed. I had to finish up with R46 strong red. It just wasn't the same. I have had these copics for 4 years, I guess it was inevitable that one would run out. Have any of you run out of ink? Did you buy another pen or go for the reinkers? Me- I just want another pen. Santa- are ya listening- can you hook a "nice girl" up this year?!!?

I hope you get it and am enjoying a stress free holiday season, unlike me.

See you all soon!

The Male Room, Challenge #Christmas or Seasons Greetings

It's hard to believe but Christmas is only a few weeks away! Geez, it seems that once Thanksgiving has gone Christmas just shows up. I gotta say though this is my most creative time of the year. the mojo starts working overtime and the ideas just keep spilling out of me.

I always take the 2nd or third week off to make my cards gifts and to shop. It is favorite vacation. This week at the Male Room we are hosting our last challenge before 2016. The theme is Christmas or Seasons Greetings. That is a pretty wide open challenge, so no excuses folks! let's see your creations!

Today's card features some fun elements like that cute red nosed moose that I found at my local Paper Source. The trees are from HA's "stamp and cut holiday trees".  

What guy wouldn't like this whimsical scene!

 I will see you all again on Jan. 6, 2016 for our next challenge.

I am truly wishing all of you a blessed holiday season full of family, friends and some time for stamping and creativity!

Join me at Laura's Loft!

Hi everyone! What?!!? You are probably thinking I am loosing my marbles! This isn't a Christmas card!!

Yeah I know, but it is cold outside and I just wanted a bit of the tropics. Altenew to the rescue. Whimsical  Flowers warmed my heart. 

I have discovered a new place to shop. It is the online version of the first stamp store that I worked and taught at. The place was called "Create an Impression" but customers always called it Heather's store. That's how I feel about Laura's Loft.  It has that independent small brick and mortar feel to it that is missing among all the mega online craft shops.

As important as I always though it was to support our physical stores, sadly there are very few left, so we need to support our small online businesses. Please check out Laura's store, and blog for tons of inspiration. She has monthly blog hops and challenges!

Today's tropical card was colored with zig clean color markers. When it was colored I went back with my wink of stella pen and the colors really popped!

Now grab a pina coloada and check out Laura's Loft!  Tell her Sue T. sent you!!

House of Cards Blog Hop

Hi everyone!  Can you believe we've are at the end of another term here at House of Cards?!  Unfortunately we are saying a fond farewell to some of our DT members and fortunately we are so happy to those staying on.  To say goodbye and thank you, we're celebrating with a blog hop!  You should have arrived here from Mynn. 

This hop will run FROM December 1ST AT 6:00 AM CST THROUGH December 15TH AT NOON CST,  ANY CARD STYLE is welcome and we've got a 
gorgeous photo inspiration for your crafting enjoyment! 

  
***PRIZE WINNERS FROM THE BLOG HOP WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE 20TH OF DECEMBER. CARD WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT MONTH ON THE 15TH, AS PER THE USUAL HERE AT HOC.  THANK YOU!***


 So, get ready and let's get hopping?!  Oh wait, hold the horses!! Before we get hoppin',  we have some fabulous sponsors to share with you!  Make sure you leave a comment at each person's blog along the way because the prizes are hidden and we'll be doing random drawings from the blogs where they are hiding! :)  After you're done, make a creation to share with us here, too, for another chance to win!

Here are all of our fabulous sponsors.

Our team will be using a variety of products

from these amazing companies!

Deedee's Digis
Prize: Digital Stamps Prize Package

The name says it all!  If you're looking for wholesome digital "stamps" and papers that will make you smile, this is the place to shop!  We have a variety of sets for any occasion and any crafter.  Stop by to check them out today!

Great Impressions
Prize: Prize Package

Here are the stamps you could win!

(Three total--ornaments and 2 sentiments)

Inspired By Stamping

Prize: Gift Card to Store

MHKDesigns

Prize: Any three products of your choice!

For the blog hop this month I used a selection of stamps from one of our sponsors- Great Impresssions.

Now get to hoppin'!  Your next stop Barbara!  Don't forget to link up a project with us after completing the hop for an extra chance to win a mystery prize from one of our fabulous sponsors, too!  HUGS and happy stamping to you all! :)

Happy Little Stampers December Sketch Challenge

Thanksgiving is behind us and we have the Christmas holiday to look forward to. I gotta say this is my favorite crafting time. 

I get all of my holiday stamps out and throw on all the holiday music on Pandora and fa la la la la.... I am in the spirit!!

The sketch this month at Happy Little Stampers just made me think shaker card! 

 

My Lawn Fawn birdies are singing along to Kylie's Happy Little Stamper set- Mixed Christmas Sentiments. This set has the best assortment of holiday saying in a variety of fun fonts!

I hope you are getting in the spirit of Christmas and creativity! I can't wait to see what all of you come up with this month at Happy Little Stampers Sketch Challenge.